Sheet-metal fence-post



(No Model.)

I. P. ROSBAGK. SHEET METAL FENCE POST.

Patented Aug. 4, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

FREDRICK P. ROSBACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY F. BAND, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SHEET-METAL FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,133, dated August 4, 1891.

Application filed January 17, 1891. Serial No. 378,114. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: To the attainment of the foregoing and Be it known that I,FREDRIOKP.ROSBACK, other useful ends my invention consists in acitizen of the United States, residing at Chimatters hereinafter set forth, and particucago, in the county of Cook and State of Illilarly pointed out in the claims. 5 nois, have invented a certain new and useful In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 Improvement in Sheet-Metal Fence-Posts, of represents a couple of fence-posts embodying which the following is a specification. my invention and set into the ground, with a My invention relates to a construction of series of fence-wires attached to the posts so as sheet-metal post particularly adapted for toformafence. Fig.2representsinelevation, to service as a fence-post, but also of use as a on a somewhat larger scale, a fence-post empost or pole for telegraph-wires and other bodyingmy inventionand illustrates thesame analogous purposes and involving as a matbefore ithas been driven intothe ground. Fig. ter of general construction a sheet of steel or 3 is a central longitudinal section through other suitable metal rolled into tubular form said post, but illustrates the condition of the I 5 and adapted to be driven into the ground. same after it has-been driven into the ground. My invention is also particularly applica- Fig. 4 is a cross-section through Fig. 2 on line ble to a sheet-metal fence-post involving, in 4 4. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through Fig. 3 on addition to the aforesaid general feature of line 5 5. Fig. 6is a cross-sectionthrough Fig. construction,agradual enlargement in diame- 2 on line 6 6, the post illustrated by Fig. 6 be- 2o ter toward its lower end and a capability of ing made slightly larger than in Fig. 2 for confurther expansion along its lower end portion venience of illustration. Fig. 7 illustrates a when driven into the ground, so that when portion of the post having the rivets arranged the post is set it shall have an enlarged base in pairs. Fig. 8 comprises an end view and portion,and thereby stand firmly in the earth. central section of one of the rivets having a 25 The objects and advantages of my invennotch in its end.

tion are the provision of an exceedingly strong The post A is formed from an oblong sheetand durable construction in a simple and metal blank, which is rolled into tubular form, economical way; provision for the expansion with one longitudinal edge portion overlapof the lower end portion of the post as it is ping the other longitudinal edge portion, sub- 0 being driven into the ground and at the same stantially as in Figs. 4c and 6. The sheettime the practical preservation of the integmetal blank is preferably rolled so as to inrity of the tubular form or construction of crease the diameter of the hollow or tubal-a; said portion of the post; the provision of simpost toward its lower end, and for this purple, reliable, and efficient means for securing pose the blank can be widened toward one 5 together the meeting edges of the tubular end, although of course it could be made of metal sheet along the upper end portion of equal width at its ends and rolled so as to en the structure, so that while the lower end porlarge the post toward one end, as aforesaid. tion of the post may expand while being This enlargement of the post can be gradual driven into the ground the upper end portion from end to end thereof; but as a preferred o 0 of the post which stands above the groundarrangement the post is enlarged from the ,7

line shall retain its original size and shape; ground-line B toward its lower end, as in Fig. to utilize means employed for securing to- 2. The overlapping edge portions a of the gether the upper edges of the tubular metal metal sheet which is thus rolled to form a sheet as holders for fence and other wires; post are secured together above the ground- 5 5 the provision of a simple and serviceable top line, so that while the portion of the post or cap for the post; the permissibility of the which is destined to stand above the ground ready and economical manufacture of the arshall involve the construction of atube formed ticle by machinery, and the provision of cerof a metal sheet which is secured or united tain novel and serviceable details of construcalong its meeting edge so as to form a rigidlymo 50 -tion serving to increase the general efficiency closed seam the portion of the post which is and utility of sheet-metal fence-posts. to be driven into the ground shall involve the construction of a longitudinally-split tube, which is free to expand by reason of its split or non-united seam. When, therefore, the post thus constructed is driven into the grou nd, its lower enlarged or expanded end portion (which, as aforesaid, is gradually enlarged or expanded downwardly from the ground-line,

as in Fig. 2) will expand to a greater extent,

as in Fig. 5, and thereby give the post an enlarged base and a firm hold in the ground. During the act of thus driving down the post the overlapping edges of the metal sheet of which it is formed will slide upon and draw away from one another below the lowest point of securement of said edgeportions and to an extent proportional to the expansion of the post below said point. It is desirable, therefore, that the edge portions of metal sheet belowthe ground-line or below the lowest point of their securement. should overlap one another to an extent to provide for the drawing away of one edge portion from the other, and thereby preserve the construction of a complete or practically complete tube, notwithstanding its said expansion. In order to thus provide against an undesirable longitudinal gap below the ground-line, the blank can be cut so as to permit the edges to overlap to a greater extent below the ground-line or point of securement of. said edges, or the blank can be of such width from end to end as shall permit its entire longitudinal edge portions to bverlap: to a considerable extent.

Forthe broader purposes of my invention the post may-be. so formed that the greatest expansion to which its lower end portion is subject shall bring one longitudinal edge of theimetal sheet opposite the otherlongitudinal edgethereof or leave the longitudinal edge portions of the metal sheet still somewhat overlapped, the essential feature being that by overlapping, the edge portions in the first place one may draw away from the other during the act of driving down the post and yet avoid an undesirableextent of separation on thepart of the edges of the metal sheet.

Forthe broader purposes of my invention ,the downwardly-enlarged sheet-metal post, havingthe longitudinal edge portion of at least itslower end portion arranged to overlap, can be secured along the upper portion of its-seam in any suitable way; but as a matter-of further improvement I roll the blank so that its longitudinal edge portions shall overlap along or substantially along the entire length of post and secure said overlapping edge portions together above the ground-line by rivetsG.

Ihe rivet-holes can be punched either-before or after rolling the blank, and the rivets can be applied in any suitable way, although as a preferred mode I can apply and upset their inner'endsby a suitable machine. ther'inatter of improvement, I form the rivetheads so asto permit them to form holders forthe fence-wires D, which may, for example, bearranged as in Fig. 1.

As a fur- The rivet-heads may be formed in various ways. Thus each rivet may have an annular groove 0, so that in order to attach a wire the same can be secured by engaging it in said groove and giving it one or more turns about the rivet. The rivet may also have in its head a notch c for the reception of a wire, and this arrangement Iregard as of particularservice in attaching barbed wire, which, being, as a rule, formed by two or more strands twisted together, is too stiff to be bent around the rivet-head in its annular groove, and hence, in order toattach it to the rivet-head, it can be laid in notch o and further secured in place by a short wire, which can be carried about the rivet-head in the annular groove 0 thereof and tied to the barbed .wire.v I-may also arrange the rivets in various way s-as,

for example, I can place them in pairs, so as to permit the wire to be carried about them, as in Fig. 7.

To the top end of=the post I fit ametal cap E, which'can also be secured by a rivet C. The cap serves to close the hollow post, and while serving to receive the blows of the hammer or other implement used in driving down the post prevents splitting or undesirabledefacement of the latter.

What I claim as my invention ,is

1. Atubular sheet-metal fence-post enlarged toward its lower end and formed of ametal sheet having its meeting edge portions arranged to overlap one another, the overlap ping edge portions of the metal sheet being along the lower portion of the post freeto slidev upon one another, so that when the post is forced into the ground it can expand in diameter below the ground-line without opening along the seam, substantially asset forth.

2. A tubular sheet-metal fence-post enlarged toward its lower end and formed of a metal sheet having its meeting edge portionssecured together along the upper end portion only of the post and arranged to overlap along the lower end portion of the post, the overlapping edge portions along the lower end portion of the post being. free to slide upon one another, so that said portion of the post may, when forced into the ground, expand without opening along the seam, substantially as set forth.

3. Atubular sheet-metal fence-post enlarged toward its lower end and formed of a metal sheet having its meeting edge portions arranged to overlap along substantially theentire length of post, but secured together along the upper end portion only: of thesame, the overlapping edge portions of the metal sheet along the lower portion of the post being free to slide upon one another, so that said portion of the post may, when forced into the ground, expand without opening, along the seam, substantially as setforth.

4. A tubular sheet-metal fence-post gradually enlarged downwardlysubstantially from the ground-line and formed from a metal sheet having its meeting edges arrangedto overlap and secured together above the said point of enlargement, the overlapping edge portions of the metal sheet along the lower edge portion of the post being free to slide upon one another, so as to allow said portion of the post to expand when driven into the ground without opening along the seam, substantially as set forth.

5. Atubular sheet-metal fence-post enlarged toward its lower end and formed of a metal sheet having its meeting edges arranged to overlap and riveted together along the upper end portion of the post, the overlapping edge portions of the metal sheet below the line of rivets being free to slide upon one another, so as to permit the lower portion of the post to expand when forced into the ground without opening along the seam, substantially as set forth.

6. A tubular sheet-metal fence-post formed tions secured together by rivets having an- 35 nular grooves and end notches.

FREDRIOK P. ROSBAOK. Witnesses:

CHAS. G. PAGE, RETA M. WAGNER. 

